Consideration and evaluation of Non-Pipeline Alternatives (NPAs) has emerged as a key regulatory development for gas utilities in several US states, stemming from reform efforts in natural gas planning (often dubbed “Future of Gas” proceedings).
While NPA implementations to date have been sparse and largely bespoke, NPA requirements imposed on local distribution companies (LDCs) are becoming the on-ramp to reimagining gas infrastructure planning more broadly in certain US regions.
The implications of NPAs for LDCs are prompting a wave of new questions and considerations such as:
- How might utility planning requirements evolve?
- What regulatory or incentive structures could encourage and reward gas utility participation in NPAs?
- Do NPAs represent a durable new investment opportunity, or are they simply another restrictive regulatory requirement affecting only a select few?
In this Insight, CRA Energy’s Jesse Dakss examines how NPAs are reshaping infrastructure investment decisions and creating new opportunities for utilities to deliver value.
